Amal Clooney at the Watermark Conference for Women in San Jose 23.02.2018

Amal Clooney is all smiles as she arrives onstage at the 2018 Watermark Conference for Women held at the San Jose Convention Center on Friday (February 23) in San Jose, Calififornia, USA.

Amal Clooney was only 4 when her family fled the Lebanese Civil War, so she doesn’t remember much about its horrors. But her mother has told her of the afternoon when the small school bus she and her sister were riding was hours late. The bus had to veer off the road near their Beirut home, because of shelling ahead.

“As a parent now, I can’t imagine how terrifying that must have been,” Amal Clooney said Friday at the Watermark Conference for Women Silicon Valley in San Jose.

As Amal Clooney acknowledged, the experience of being a refugee from a war-torn area, as well as a mother, has informed her activism on behalf of victims of violence. Now Clooney’s support extends to the students who survived last week’s mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. She and George Clooney plan to attend the students’ anti-gun violence march in Washington, D.C., on March 24.

Moreover, the couple have pledged $500,000 to help fund the event. They announced their donation this week in the name of their children, Ella and Alexander.

“I’m just blown away by these students,” Clooney said, during an onstage conversation with “All Things Considered” co-host Kelly McEvers at the San Jose Convention Center.

“They are turning a tragedy into advocacy,” said Clooney, whose clients have included journalists imprisoned by governments in Egypt and Azerbaijan, as well as an Iraqi woman whose family and ethnic Yazidi community were targeted by ISIS for genocide, rape and sex slavery.

She noted that it’s only been a little over a week since the Parkland shooting, when a 19-year-old former student, Nikolas Cruz, opened fire at the suburban high school, killing 14 students and three staff members.

Students reported hiding in closets, listening to gunfire in nearby classrooms, texting their parents to say good-bye and then surviving, only to learn that friends and classmates had died.

“I’m in awe of how courageous they are and how effective they are,” Clooney said. In the last week, the students have started a national conversation about gun control and school safety that could bring about a reckoning over gun violence in America.

These students notably have called out President Donald Trump, members of congress and the National Rifle Association for their refusal to acknowledge what the students see as the key factor in mass shootings: the accessibility of guns in America, especially of high-powered rifles like the AR-15, which was used by Cruz.

“I don’t think I would have had the presence of mind or the courage to do what they are doing at age 16, let alone having gone through what they have,” Clooney said.

She also praised the students for the way they have spoken passionately and intelligently and asked the “tough questions” in their appearances on national television and in face-to-face encounters with U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and with Trump at the White House.

“They are the best vehicle (for change),” Clooney said. “They are our best hope.”

As someone not born in the United States, Clooney said she has always looked at this country as one that provides a “great example to others.” Clooney grew up in the United Kingdom, but got her law degree at New York University, worked for a time on Wall Street and lives with her husband in Los Angeles part-time.

But in one way, She suggested, America is not living up to its best self.

“The idea that children are scared to go to school, bullet-proof backpacks are being sold out and that students have to go through these live shooter drills,” she said. “And the conclusion is, ‘Let’s start arming teachers.’ It just doesn’t make sense to me.”

She also disputed other ideas being floated about how to address mass shootings.

People say maybe it’s because there is violence in films or there is a mental health issue,” she said. “But there’s violence in films and mental health issues in other countries. This is the only country where this kind of problem exists.”

Amal Clooney emphasized why this issue has become personal to her, and why she and her family will attend the march to support efforts to bring about change: “It’s likely that my children will go to school here. I know their lives literally depend on (change happening).”

I like her dress. She represents my beliefs. I am pleased that she and her husband are putting money into the effort to change the discussion (and outcome) about gun ownership in the US. Some philanthropists, but mostly sports stars and people in the film/entertainment industry, have the resources to move an initiative along. I remain hopeful that in my lifetime we will be able to look back and say women in the “metoo” movement and students in the “studentstoo” movement made a difference.

Honestly I have such believe these young adults and children will make a change . I am impressed they stood up as amal said just a week after being in closets fearing for their lives. I am disappointed that adults are not taking this same charge looking at our more recent history the young kids are the ones who brought change ( think Egypt revolution and gov turn over ) PEOPLE SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES LISTEN UP THESE GUYS WILL BE VOTING AGE VERY SOON!!!!!

This is a very intelligent, truthful and perceptive remark that some are already working on, In a few years this young generation will be voting for the new POTUS.. choosing the Clooney/Alamuddin family ha
Lights, cameras and Action …all are ready :- )))

First: This outfit has her glowing. Fresh. Bright. Cheerful. Bold. I also like the unexpected pattern mix-up. Great shoes to add to the “edge” of this outfit. Second: Amal is “spot on” regarding the school shooting, how the students responded, and the foolishness of having teachers armed with guns. Amal “gets it!” Three: Interesting when she said it is “likely” her children will go to school “here” –assuming the USA.

So nice to see her “out and about.” Still anxiously waiting to see those two cute little twins. My big guess: they will do a family photo and release it sometime around June 6 for their first birthday. A “Turning 1” photo. We shall see. They will soon be 9 months and still no public photos.

The longer the kids are out of the public eye and scrutiny the smarter I think Amal and George are. I am sure they are seen by people they know. Amal is criticized about everything including her pregnancy that I rather admire them for keeping their kids private, from public view.

I see snipets of this interview and she said last year she was at a conference she was 8 weeks pregnant and worried she would vomit on stage lol that was Texas. ANYONE HAVE THIS FULL INTERVIEW I AM
DYING TO SEE

I want to see her interview the same exact reason u are interested in her political views and have posted links to her other interviews in the past. I want to see the interview and I have – I watched it in its entirety – dying for the link Jackson ?

Her (their) political views and ambition are very clear by now. It is already a bit dejavu the subtle message in everything she says/does. She already did transition from being a junior barrister to the political field with a fashion glam :- )

Soos- You have an obsession with Amal. I do not know how old you are but it reminds me of a love struck teenager who wants desperately to know the every move of a celebrity. When I saw your obsession with wanting to know the parking lot she was in and then the recent in all caps desperate plea for an interview where she may have mentioned vomiting I thought of you as a stalker. Having an interest in someobne’s political views or commenting on one’s attire is quite different from having an obsession of a person’s every move and transgression.

Yeah agree, that “dying to see…” has to be childish way of expressing or not funny sarcastic … kindda creepy/sad.
Teenagers need to go back to class to learn, create and have experiences instead of focusing on superficial fame, popularity, fashion and extravagances, but this is what the celebrities unfortunately show nowadays.
Even a good speech don’t mean much if it doesn’t go along the action.

Jackson if u took the time to read u ding bat I asked about the parking lot because I wanted to know which place she got her facial treatment – which as u may or may not know people look to models actressses or people in public eye to get those services as well OR follow a blog about their attire to PERHAPS ENJOY their fashion and even aim to achieve their style. And I didn’t ask to see the interview interview ton hear about her vomiting I said that’s what she said in a clip – I said I wanted to her the entire interview to simply hear the entire interview bonehead which includes her thoughts on HGY POLITICIZED matters which u also commented on urself – on a fashion blog …..

And you have the nerve lady to say I’m a stalker yet here you are TRACKING EVERY COMMENT I MADE and repeating them in one post. Jackson – thanks for keeping me relevant and on ur mind so much HUGS AND KISSES MWAH MWAH MWAH